Pregnant Pause: helping mums-to-be ditch the drink

I cannot think if anything worse than quitting drinking because someone else is pregnant. I’m all for supporting people and happy to do things that don’t involve alcohol when my family or friends are expecting, but that’s taking it a bit far in my opinion.
Everyone knows not to drink when pregnant, they don’t need me giving up the booze too!

carnardly said :

Blen_Carmichael said :

“Pressing pause on your usual wine or beer when you’re around a mum-to-be is a simple and considerate way you can make her feel included and supported.”

Your body, your right; your body, your responsibility.

until the whole community and additional resources are involved when your kid is diagnosed with learning difficulties and subsequently fasd….

The guidelines only exist because drinking at moderate to high levels (more than seven standard drinks in a week) and binge drinking are linked to FASD. There are no scientific studies that find that low levels of alcohol (ie, 1-2 glasses of wine, 1-2 times a week) have any impact on the symptoms of pregnancy or on the development of the foetus. It’s easier for campaign reasons to have a blanket ban on drinking, rather than note that exception. Many obstetricians state that the occasional drink is fine, even though the social stigma is at odds with that. It’s the same with caffeine – while high amounts are inadvisable, there are mixed messages with many doctors saying that 2-4 cups of coffee a day is within the appropriate amount.

There’s also conflicting issues with which stage of the pregnancy alcohol can trigger the most harm; apparently, those actively planning on getting pregnant should steer clear of all alcohol, but many women binge drink before they realise that they are pregnant without undue effect.

I’m not saying that all pregnant women should go out and get hammered, more that pregnant women shouldn’t be socially vilified and shamed for a couple of drinks.

Did they just steal the census theme? Didn’t that go well!

Blen_Carmichael said :

“Pressing pause on your usual wine or beer when you’re around a mum-to-be is a simple and considerate way you can make her feel included and supported.”

Your body, your right; your body, your responsibility.

until the whole community and additional resources are involved when your kid is diagnosed with learning difficulties and subsequently fasd….

I don’t know about this campaign. It’s pretty well known that alcohol isn’t good in pregnancy, so for those who are still drinking during their pregnancy, there’s clearly more complicated things going on than an awareness campaign can address. It’s a bit simplistic.

The time when alcohol is likely to do the most damage overlaps with the time women don’t always know they are pregnant, so it’s not ‘nine months’ – it’s all the time you’re trying to conceive plus pregnancy (and then breastfeeding).

What a great initiative.

“Pressing pause on your usual wine or beer when you’re around a mum-to-be is a simple and considerate way you can make her feel included and supported.”

Your body, your right; your body, your responsibility.